SoulVeggie

Cymlinging Along

Growing excessive numbers of pattypan squash (or, if you will, "Cymling") and bartering boxes of it with a nearby Farm/Farmer's Store for equivalent values of peaches or apples, was one of the more enjoyable and personally satisfying experience of my life. I 1st read about the "saucer-shaped" squash in the fine "American Harvest" by the esteemed Nava Atlas. Unfortunately, I'm on the road right now and my copy of that book from 1988 is safe at home, or I'd post the recipe.

I think my favorite techniques for cymling consumption are:

1) spooning out the center, stuffing, and steaming or baking

2) making sandwiches by slicing "horitzontally" and grilling or sauteeing (adding other stuff to said sandwich)

3) simply "chunked" and added to stir-fries, soups, stews (think "summer squash")

This photo is from a nearby Farmer's Market in the DC area. Brought back some wonderful memories! (and my thanks for Nava for so many kitchen inspirations!)

(click on for larger image)

New Mad Cowboy Newsletter Out - Msg. from Howard, & Mr. Clucky

Title: A Special Holiday Msg. from Howard, Recipes from Vegan Unplugged!, Mr. Clucky

TOC and Direct link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/message/94

"Howdy!  Welcome to the 71th issue of the Mad Cowboy Newsletter.

This edition features a special holiday message from Howard!  You can also learn about Mr. Clucky, Dennis Kucinich's book, how the food industry wants to change the name "high fructose syrup" (and avoid connections with a study showing how HFS feeds cancer), that a new study shows that organic strawberries not only taste better, but are better for your health.  Further on, you'll see some Monsanto backlash, an unusual study about how plants "think" with light, that there was actually a Texas Veggie Fair during the humongous Texas State Fair, more concerns about Frankenfish, and that the oldest Brit is vegetarian.

Don't miss the fine recipes from "Vegan Unplugged!" a unique survival guide and vegan cookbook, quite a few videos worth glomming in the "Vegan Digital Media Theater," how $4.2 billion is being spent to convince you to eat "fast food," and that the Tea Party wants to eliminate "Puppy Mill" legislation.  And of course, there's the obligatory "Mad Cow Info Round-Up."

... as always, a tip of the hat to our new subscribers:  y'all can browse/search through past issues at the Mad Cowboy Newsletter Archives at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/

Here's hoping everyone has a fine, warm, and enjoyable Vegan Thanksgiving with friends and family! Be patient with your non-veg relatives or associations, and set an example by being grateful for what blessings we do have and giving thanks where due.

Best regards, Mark    MC editor/webmaster

***********************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00: A Special Holiday Message from Howard
01: The Vegan Mind-Bender Contest Winner/Challenge!
02: Recipes from "Vegan Unplugged!" by Jon Robertson
03: Mad Cow Info Round-Up
04: HFS Feeds Cancer/Name Chg., US Avoids Vegs, $4.2 Billion
05: Study: Org. Strawbs Best, Monsanto Wins/Loses, Plants Think
06: Vegan Digital Media Theater
07: Tex Veggie Fair, Kucinich Cookbook, Oldest Brit is Veg, Quivers
08: Frankenfish, Mr. Clucky, Pam Anderson, Tea Party vs. Puppies
09: Quick Bytes
10: Closing Thoughts"

Video: Bill Maher & Alice Waters ("Slow Food")

Very enjoyable interview between Maher and Waters regarding diet, food, and related issues.  Although she's not a veg, she's done much to advance a better understanding of real food and the negative impact of fast food.  Her program for teaching kids about growing their own food, "Edible Schoolyard," imho, is a tremendous concept and has much more long-lasting implications than most "healthy school meal programs" I've seen.  It has inspired many similar efforts across the country (and world).

Additional links of note:

Alice Waters on "60 minutes" (transcript)
Alice Waters on "The Morality of Food" (ironic, though, that she eats meat)
Alice Waters with Charlie Rose (interview)
The Edible Schoolyard website

"10 Reasons Why GMOs are not Compatible with Organic Ag"

"Despite fundamental differences in what they represent, there are occasional calls to allow the use of genetic engineering  (which produces genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs) within the USDA National Organic Program. GMO varieties are currently most widespread in corn, soybean, canola and cotton crops, in dairy production, and in minor ingredients, such as dairy cultures, used in food processing, but new products are being introduced and commercialized. Here are 10 essential points that I believe show why GMOs are incompatible with organic production:

1. Basic science...
2. Ecological impact...
3. Control vs harmony...
4. Unpredictable consequences...
5. Transparency...
6. Accountability....
7. Unnecessary....
8. Genetic diversity. ..
9. Not profitable...
10. No consumer demand..."

Edited from the excellent and much more detailed article from Rodale, here

Latest "Mad Cowboy Newsletter" Is Available Online

Intro & T.O.C. and direct link to the latest issue:
 ----
"Howdy!  Welcome to the 69th issue of the Mad Cowboy Newsletter.

In this edition of the Newsletter we're pleased to provide two great recipes from the new cookbook by Tamasin Noye, "American Vegan Kitchen."  It's a real winner.  Reading down farther you'll note that Mad Cow Disease has "returned" to Canada, issues with hormones in pigs, and information about the various food recalls that keep showing up.  There's also some articles on how reducing salt can drastically reduce health expenditures and save lives, current stats on obesity (hint:  we're not winning), how the FDA came down on several "natural food" producing companies, and detailed reasons for no GM food and why you should have a vegetable garden.

Moving on, among other articles, there's encouragment in noting that "The Cove" won an Academy award, and it's makers were instrumental in shutting down a restaurant in Santa Monica serving whale sushi.  Momentum is growing to give Dolphin's "non-person" legal rights, and outside of our Vegan Media Theater (with many offerings this issue, including a funny SNL parody and a conversation between Bill Moyers and Jane Goodall), you can see the First Lady's Garden as it is now in Spring via video. 

Finally, on a sad note, we end with some closing thoughts from Howard Zinn, who died recently.  He was an inspiration to many, and will be missed.

... as always, a tip of the hat to our new subscribers:  y'all can browse past issues at the Mad Cowboy Newsletter Archives (and see the "Quick Bytes" section, omitted from this edition of the Newsletter) at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/

Best wishes to everyone for a Great Spring and hopes that your own garden's grow well and plentiful this season!

Mark, MC editor/webmaster
***********************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

00: Quote(s) of Note
01: The Vegan Mind-Bender Contest Winner/Challenge!
02: Recipes from "American Vegan Kitchen" by Tamasin Noye
03: Mad Cow Info Round-Up
04: Less Salt-Save Lives, Fat Plateau? Mktg. to Kids, Bad Labels
05: Whales Win 2X, Dolphin Legal Rights, Dirty Shrimp Secrets
06: Vegan Digital Media Theater
07: Reasons for no GM food, World Water, Michelle's Garden & Yours
08: Howard's Schedule
09: Closing Thoughts

Latest Mad Cowboy Newsletter - Rip Essy Interview/Recipes

Here's the Intro, Table of Contents, and a Direct Link to the latest Mad Cowboy Newsletter:

LINK:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/message/88

"10_19_09:  Engine 2 Interview, Mutant Milk, & SpiderVeg"

Howdy! Welcome to the 67th issue of the Mad Cowboy Newsletter.

In this issue we're proud to present a Mad Cowboy Interview with the amazing vegan firefighter/author, Rip Esselstyn. Rip's the son of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and has built upon his father's remarkable research via some very practical and easy-to-do ways in his diet/exercise/lifestyle book, "The Engine 2 Diet."  There's also three of his recipes for you to try!

Moving on further, there's articles about Mutant Milk, how saturated fat enables Altzheimer's, some surprising statistics on what we eat, Brainfood at the White House, a great new position paper by the ADA on the Vegetarian Diet, and more about that same diet reducing cancer risk.

Continuing in this edition, there's the intriguing proposal for a 50 year Farm Bill, 70 pages of solutions to our agricultural woes, the real cost of food, the new composting mandate in San Francisco, how animal abusers are losing, AETA is winning, new math contrasting a vegan diet with a carnivore's, and the Amazing SpiderVeg!

... as always, a tip of the hat to our new subscribers: y'all can browse past issues at the Mad Cowboy Newsletter Archives:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/

Here's hoping everyone is warm, and to quote Rip: "plant strong" this Winter!

Mark, MC editor/webmaster

***********************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

00: Quote(s) from Howard
01: A Mad Cowboy Interview with Rip Esselstyn
02: Three Recipes from "The Engine 2 Diet"
03: The Vegan Mind-Bender Contest Winner/Challenge!
04: Mad Cow Info Round-Up
05: Mutant Milk, Fat & Altzheimer's, US Fatter, What We're Eating
06: Brainfood, Veg Diet Reduces Cancer & Chronic Disease Risks
07: The Digital Vegan
08: 50 yr Farm Bill, Ag Solutions, Real Food Cost, Composting SF
09: Animal Abusers Lose, AETA Wins, Veg Math, Spider Veg!
10: Howard's Schedule
11: Quick Bytes
12: Closing Thoughts

"Newman's Own Organics Dark Secret"

It's really ironic when a superb vegan chef, who's created some marvelous no- and low-fat vegan recipes, actively promotes (and does a giveaway to drive more traffic to her site) a product that, on the surface, seems to be reasonably healthy and good, but is, in fact, far from both.  However, since they sent her a free box of stuff to review, guess that's okay.

The blogger is giving away 3 "Newman's Own Premium Dark Chocolate Bars" at random to people who leave a comment on her post.  They get an extra "entry" for Tweeting or Blogging about her post.

But the blogger hasn't bothered to either seek or note the nutritional breakdown of these junk bars (hey!  they're ORGANIC... that MUST be good).  So let's take a peek at the Nutritional Analysis of one of these puppies (Newman's own doesn't bother to provide the RDA percentages at their website):

1) FAT:  28 grams of fat (that's double to over the total recommended per day by the guys who've reversed heart disease, Ornish and Esselstyn), and about half recommended per day by the Feds.  It's also 16 grams of saturated fat, and that's 100% of the total daily saturated fat (a heart disease promoter) recommended for women by the Feds.

2) SUGAR:  16 grams.  That's 2/3 of the TOTAL sugar recommended per day by the American Heart Association for women (25 grams), and about 1/2 of the TOTAL recommended per day for men.

Newman's Own Dark Secret:  that chocolate bar is a very effective fat/saturated fat/sugar delivery vehicle for inviting heart disease, let alone, obesity and diabetes...  Even ONE high fat meal is tough on your arteries.  Such a gracious giveaway... giving people a chance to win a free chocolate bar, and ultimately, giving three people a greater chance for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

However, to keep getting vegan freebies, one must not worry about all that fat/sugar stuff.  It's someone else's decision to eat the stuff... all that matters is promoting more blog traffic to get more freebies, which will, in turn, promote more blog traffic!  An endless cycle...

But then hey, a free organic heart attack is better than one that's not, right?

New Film Trailer: "What's "Organic" About Organic?"

"[This film]... rings the alarm for the need to develop an ecological consciousness.  The film illustrates that the organic food debate extends well beyond personal choice and into the realm of social responsibility.

Each of the film’s characters is intimately connected to the organic world; they’re farmers, activists, and scientists.  While many folks can easily endorse “organic,” the characters in the film take the discussion beyond just shopping for another eco-label. As we glimpse into each of their lives, we see how organic agriculture has the potential to solve many of our environmental and health problems.  The film will explore how organic farming can be used as a soil and air protection system, a healthy solution to toxic pollution, and an innovative means to combat global warming.

WHAT’S ORGANIC ABOUT “ORGANIC?” delves into the debates that arise when a grassroots agricultural movement evolves into a booming international market.  As the film moves from farm fields to government meetings to industry trade shows, we see the hidden costs of conventional agriculture.  We also see how our health, the health of our planet, and the agricultural needs of our society are all intimately connected.  The film compels us to look forward, towards a new vision for our culture and encourages us to ask, “What should our future food system look like?”

[Love the phrase: "conscientious consumption" from the trailer.  The "about" excerpt above is from the really kewl and resource-full website here.  Check it out and pass the URL around. Oh, and go low-fat vegan... been too busy harvesting, preserving, planting, watering to do much else than this quickie post... still slow in typing with finger recovering...]

Independence from the US Food Supply

 

(All images ©2009 by Mark Sutton - Respectively:  currants, gooseberries, raspberries, lettuces from the garden - Click on image to get larger version in new window)

"True freedom requires food independence... I am now celebrating my food independence from the greedy, poisonous food corporations of North America. No more Dean Foods [Silk Products] or PepsiCo in my life. No more being enslaved by Monsanto or ADM. No genetically-modified foods, pesticides, herbicides or terminator seeds are found around here. No long-distance food imports, no waiting in line at the grocery store with a stupid discount card and no more packing my groceries home in toxic plastic bags made from petrochemicals.

My food acquisition process has become ridiculously simple:

Step 1: Walk to the garden (60 seconds).
Step 2: Pick what I want to eat (5-10 enjoyable minutes).
Step 3: Prepare it (juice it, boil it or whatever).
Step 4: Eat it.

This process requires no financial transactions, no taxes, no transportation, no plastic wrappers and no coupons. It does not involve finding a parking spot, going into a building, carrying cash or inhaling the toxic vapors of detergent products that permeate all the aisles of modern grocery stores. There is no need to check a price, enter a UPC bar code or banter with grocery store clerks. Instead, I simply walk to the garden, harvest the food and eat it.

That this simple act is so astonishingly rare is, all by itself, a disturbing commentary about the state of the food supply in America today."

[Full article here and below.  I could not identify with it more... this morning's breakfast was a big handful (each) of homegrown raspberries (black and red), currants, and gooseberries.  Lunch was mixed salad greens salad (from the garden, 'natch).  Dinner will be roasted mixed vegetables from the garden, sauteed garlic with mixed chard (all homegrown), balsamic vinegar, minced dried hot peppers (from last year), some cheap white wine (for cooking), and local steamed corn (local is from the farm a mile up the road).  Well worth all the effort... (better daily workout than in a gym), but... I still haven't sourced an olive oil plant yet... maybe it's not real whole food?]

NADD - Nutritional Attention Deficit Disorder

Here's a post from a vegan blogger criticizing a SoyJoy Bar (http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/06/soy-joy-bars-butter-eggs-cheese-joy.html)  --- she's so proud of her posts that she prevents me from linking to them here) has having too much saturated fat (3.5 grams, 6 grams of total fat) for one serving.  Normally, I'd praise this insightful conclusion.  Here's an excerpt:

"Soy is Joy. I applaud SoyJoy's plight to bring high quality whole ground soy bean to the mass markets of people. But there is a lot of confusion and propaganda from their marketing. I will bet a lot of people eat these bars thinking, wow I'm being so healthy right now. But 3.5 grams of saturated fat from one tiny bar is not so healthy. "

However, a few weeks later, she's promoting Newman's Organic chocolate bars (http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/07/newmans-signature-series-chocolate.html) , and the vegan version that "tastes so good" weighs in at, yup, 16 grams of saturated fat (28 grams of fat total, almost FIVE times that of the SoyJoy Bar) a single serving:

"For the most health benefits, go with the 70% Super Dark Chocolate flavor. Super Dark ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (organic chocolate liquor*, organic evaporated cane juice, organic cocoa butter*, soy lecithin [an emulsifier], organic vanilla). Bars are around 300 calories. When it comes to chocolate, this is some of the good stuff."

WFT? If you ask me, possible signs of "nutritional attention deficit disorder".  Contrast 28 grams of fat (and 330 calories) in a single serving chocolate bar with the 14 to 20 grams of fat per day TOTAL recommended by Drs. Esselstyn and Ornish (the only people to successfully reverse heart disease, and Dr. Neals Barnard (has reversed diabetes through low-fat vegan diet).  Here's 15 Reasons to Avoid Added Fat (and all referenced).

Guess a bigger more unhealthy high chocolate bar with really minimal nutritional value at all & a helluva lot of saturated fat (but it tastes good!!) from a company that's donated a lot of money to charities (but not enough to cover the health care costs of eating their products), is better than any tiny more nutritious one.

Personally, I find this kind of dietary casuistry upsetting, and further evidence that one should take anything this blogger writes about with a pillar of salt.  She appears to play a bit fast'n'free with the term "health."

ADDENDUM:  after posting the above, a friend pointed out that I cited a study awhile back about chocolate and its impact on cardiovascular health.  There have been other studies about chocolate and blood vessel inflammation, I haven't spent much time on that issue.  However, the dangers to the heart from saturated fat and the ability of a low-fat vegan diet to reverse (and in theory) prevent heart disease have involved a considerable amount more people (and age ranges) and twenty years of peer-reviewed research from two independent researchers. 

Furthermore, as I noted in the other post, the impact of added fat to the elasticity of your arteries has been measured many times, and I seriously doubt that the chocolate in the bar mentioned above would cancel out both the total fat and saturated fat issues.  I consider a chocolate bar, as the ingredients described above, still essentially devoid of useful nutrition.  A lot of sugar, cocoa, cocoa butter, and taste stuff.  Hardly a whole food, just a sweet food-like product that feeds an addiction to sweets.